As the United States moves to stabilize relations with China, tensions are rising between China and the European Union ahead of a summit meeting in Beijing on Thursday.
European leaders plan to confront President Xi Jinping on several economic and geopolitical issues. The EU warns it could impose new sanctions and trade penalties if China does not address European concerns.
Key areas of friction include China's tacit support of Russia's war in Ukraine, restrictions on bilateral trade and investment, and human rights issues. The EU seeks concrete action from China on ending exports to Russia used in the Ukraine conflict.
The increasingly assertive European stance contrasts with Washington's recent efforts to manage competition with Beijing and establish "guardrails" to prevent growing U.S.-China tensions from spiraling into open conflict.
Europe's sharper tone reflects eroding trust in Xi's leadership. There is skepticism that China will change problematic policies on trade, intellectual property theft, and other structural economic issues important to European economies. The EU also prioritizes bringing an end to Russia's war.
The summit threatens to widen the divide between China and Western democracies. But the EU enters talks ready to back words with punitive economic measures if Xi does not accommodate European demands. Concrete Chinese concessions could still ease building tensions.